Man pleads guilty to sexual crimes against boys at summer camp

A man who laced sweets with sedative and distributed them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males who were nine and ten years old.

The defendant was arrested after eight minors and an older person fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.

The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at Leicester Crown Court on recently.

However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.

The defendant was held in detention prior to a additional proceeding on November 28th.

'Treat game'

The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.

She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.

The man conducted a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".

She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.

She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.

The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about the activities, justifiably.

"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."

The prosecutor explained items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his concerns.

She stated Ruben went on to conduct the "treat game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all sick the following morning.

"The police had not responded by that time," she stated further.

The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining the police response of the events.

The legal representative explained the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the police a second time.

She explained Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five children.